The Nets recalled rookie Nolan Traore from their G League affiliate on Lengthy Island Thursday, ending a promising developmental stretch in opposition to high quality competitors.
Fellow rookie Drake Powell additionally returned to the massive membership forward of Friday’s recreation in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks, and with Ben Saraf staying within the G League for extra reps, the No. 19 choose might have a clearer path to significant minutes at level guard within the coming weeks.
“Yeah, he’s been playing well down in the G, so, happy for him to be back,” Michael Porter Jr. stated of Traore. “Obviously a very talented kid, a young guy that can do a lot of things on the court. So, it’s good to have him back.”
Traore’s newest call-up was effectively earned. He put up 18.8 factors and 6.4 assists whereas capturing 43.1% from 3-point vary in 13 G League video games, scoring a minimum of 12 in every outing. Over his final 5 on Lengthy Island, he bumped these numbers to 22.2 factors, 7.6 assists and 1.2 steals on 58.3% from the sphere and 60% from deep. He’s additionally one among solely three G League gamers averaging a minimum of six assists whereas capturing 40% from behind the arc, alongside Mac McClung and Steven Ashworth.
The 19-year-old stated his leap as a long-range shooter got here not from mechanical changes however from elevated confidence. He defined that his most up-to-date G League stint required him to be extra vocal as Lengthy Island’s major ground normal, and the added reps in a bigger function helped speed up his development.
“I think I progressed in all aspects of the game,” Traore stated.
Head coach Jordi Fernández, who was readily available to see Traore put up 18 factors and eight assists in Lengthy Island’s 115-95 win over the Westchester Knicks on Wednesday, didn’t specify how he’ll use the French guard shifting ahead. He did say he’s “very happy” with Traore’s growth up to now.
“The context is different [with the Nets], but we still want him to play the same way, if that makes sense,” Fernández stated. “His superpower is speed. He’s been shooting the ball very well and confidently, which I loved. He’s been trying to be more vocal, that’s what you want your point guards to be… And then the assist-to-turnover [ratio]. I think he struggled a little bit with the turnovers at times and how he reacted to those turnovers, which turnovers will happen, and I don’t care as long as you move on to the next play, and he’s had impressive numbers I assist-to-turnover ratio over his past three, four games, so, very happy with where he’s at.”
Along with his confidence rising, his decision-making sharpening and a recall that displays how far he’s are available a short while, Traore is aware of the following step is dealing with errors the identical method he dealt with the G League: by shifting ahead and staying aggressive.
“You don’t have to waste time on a bad play, and you just have to keep going and be ready to play the next play,” Traore stated. “So, you just have to be focused and get to the next play faster.”
